SCAREY STATISTICS

58 million Americans are overweight
40 million are obese
3 million are morbidly obese

That's 101 million people if math isn't your strong point. But there's more -

Eight out of ten over 25's are overweight
78% do not meet basic activity level requirements
25% are completely sedentary
Type II Diabetes in adults 30-40 years old has increased by 76% since 1990

There's a train wreck comin' folks!

STRUGGLING

This morning it was really hard going at the gym and I don't for the life of me know why. I took my usual Tuesday off from exercise yesterday, but had run 8.25 miles on Monday morning without any major difficulty.

Today I was struggling after the first mile - go figure.

I'm sure there is some scientific reason why my legs were complaing, I felt breathless and I was sweating like a pig, but I have no idea what it is.

So I was kind to myself and just did 4.25 miles, promising the gods of the treadmill that I owe them when I get back there (which will be Friday as I have an early breakfast appointment tomorrow).

DAY ONE

Okay, I'll admit it - I was shot by the time I left WW in Selden shortly after 1.15 this afternoon. That was six hours after I had arrived there and 200 plus people later too (numbers were down a bit because of the Jewish holiday).

I had a pretty good time with my four back-to-back meetings and had some encouraging feedback from the members who were making a huge readjustment after losing an outstanding leader and being landed with me in her place.

Saturdays just got very interesting!

MUFFINS

Gill found this great recipe on an All Bran box for raisin muffins - and they are delicious. At just two points each, they're substantial, tasty and filling.

Monday I had one straight out of the oven as part of my lunch; yesterday it was a breakfast muffin and I downed one with a cup of coffee for a late afternoon snack today. I think I'm addicted!

She adjusted the recipe on the side of the packet by sweetening with Splenda instead of sugar and substituting apple sauce for oil. I have no idea where she put the recipe, but since All Bran is a key ingredient, you'll need your own box anyway and you'll find it there.

THE RACE

It was a chilly, damp morning in Northport as we prepared for the 30th running of the Great Cow Harbor Race.

There was a team of eight runners from our church and we all did well, improving on last year's times. Congratulations to all, especially Rich Boes who led the way for us with an insane time of 46 minutes 20 seconds.

I did 73 minutes and change in 2006 and my ultimate goal would be to bring that down under one hour. Today's time was 69 minutes 54 seconds, so I broke 70 minutes, which is a step in the right direction.

It was fulfilling, but to say it was fun would be stretching the truth!!!

LOSERS

I didn't get to see the series premier of The Biggest Loser on Tuesday night, but I did record it to watch at my own leisure with the added bonus of being able to fast forward all the commercials.

I've seen it and I'm hooked!

Of course a huge part of the reason for that is I can easily identify with the contestants. There's an interesting mix again this time around, with the added interest of identical twins from Long Island who are part of the "secret" black team.

The most incredible part of the opener was that the 62 year old captain of the blue team lost 32lb in his first week. Of course they don't show you exactly what he put himself through to achieve that. Maybe NBC should run a disclaimer at the bottom of the screen like weight loss programs do, informing viewers that weight losses portrayed are not typical.

We did get a better glimpse into the workout before the weigh-in, where the policy is clearly to sweat as much as possible so you are as dehydrated as you can be in preparation for the scales.

Anyway, I like the show.

But I was disappointed to hear that last year's winner had regained most of his weight.

THIS IS MEANT TO BE SECRET

Since I doubt that anyone currently involved is remotely likely to be a reader of this blog, I'll satisfy the curiosity of those who are.

With effect from Saturday September 22nd, I will be leading the WeightWatchers meetings at 8.30, 9.30, 10.30 and 11.30 at their Selden Center in Selden Plaza on Middle Country Road.

This is huge for a number of reasons -

1. Up to 300 members in total attend those groups, making it the busiest center in the county.

2. The leader who is leaving has been a fixture there since 1993 and she is brilliant. Following her is a daunting task.

3. As a rookie leader, with only three meetings under my belt, it's unthinkable that they should offer this to me.

But they have and I've accepted. Great chance to meet and encourage far more people than I ever imagined!

ON ASSIGNMENT

I completed WeightWatchers' leaders' training program in July and then did four meetings with a mentor, so a couple of weeks ago I was officially cleared to be let loose on an unsuspecting public.

I've subbed a couple of times for leaders, but today I was given a regular leader's position at one of their centers.

It's a dream position, following one of the most capable communicators I have ever seen outside of a church context. It's a challenge, it's exciting aznd it's a huge opportunity.

Can't say when and where yet, but I'll pass on full details before I start there in two weeks.

GETTING BETTER

Today I ran the 6.1 miles course again that I mapped out around the neighborhood. I was very happy to cut 5 minutes off my previous best and did it all with a $4 stop watch from Wal-Mart.

Yesterday I drove around the circuit and noted where each mile marker was. Then today I had target times I had set myself to be at each of those spots. Of course it meant pushing myself harder than before and my legs were pushing back at me - my lungs weren't delighted about it either!

But the accumulated benefit of setting myself small goals and meeting them was that considerable overall progress was made.

Small goals lead to big results.

I could preach a sermon about that!

RUNNING

While I run at he gym every morning - well, around five times a week nowadays - I wouldn't like it to be thought that this is one of my favorite pastimes.

Sitting down with a few pastors last week, the subject of hobbies came up and one of the guys suggested mine was obvious, I run. I guess he deduced that from the fact that I trailed my running gear all the way to SC and had been up and out on the road that day long before the rest of the crew had even surfaced.

I wasn't doing that because I love it. I was doing it because one of the essential equations in life is that if calories burned exceed calories taken in, there will be no weight gain.

I guess I ran a couple of races this summer just because I can - well, sort of - and that's why I'm getting ready for the Great Cow Harbor Race on September 15th.

Anothe reason I'm dragging my tail the 6.2 gruelling miles around hilly Norhtport early one Saturday is that I'm looking to raise money through sponsorship to help buy a new van for our church's food pantry and mobile soup kitchen.

It's a great cause and if you want to get behind it - and me - feel free to mail me a check made payable to Grace Care.

Thanks!